Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has issued a groundbreaking bail condition, requiring Manojna Pattnaik, a woman accused of bank fraud, to clean the premises of ICICI Bank’s Link Road branch in Cuttack for two months.
The ruling, part of her bail conditions in a fraud case, has drawn significant attention for its focus on reform through community service.
Pattnaik was arrested on February 5 by the Crime Branch for securing ₹1.05 crore in loans from ICICI Bank by mortgaging the same property used to obtain a prior loan from Indian Bank in Bhubaneswar, which she failed to repay.
The High Court, while granting bail, mandated that she clean the bank premises daily from 8 AM to 10 AM, with the condition that non-compliance will lead to the cancellation of her bail.
This innovative approach aims to instill accountability and rehabilitation in the accused, marking a shift from traditional punitive measures.
The decision has ignited discussions about the role of corrective actions in the justice system, with opinions divided on its feasibility and impact.
